Day 2 of Three-day General Sale
Lot 1076:
British War Medal 1914-1918, bronze issue. Named to 20691 Pte J Ralipela SANLC. This is the scarce bronze issue awarded to the South African Native Labour
Corps. At the end of the First World War more than 12,000 South Africans had served with the SANLC in France and, had the normal regulations been applied, these men would each have been entitled to the British War and Victory Medals. In the event, the South African government decided for political reasons not to issue
medals to members of the SANLC; however the British government insisted on awarding the BWM in bronze to members of the SANLC from the neighbouring British Protectorates of Basutoland (modern Lesotho), Bechuanaland (Botswana) and Swaziland. It is believed that only around 750 of these bronze medals were awarded, making it a relatively scarce issue. One small EK, otherwise Good Very Fine condition.
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